Centrifugal pipe-casting



.I. B; LADD- CENTRIFUGAL PIPE CASTING.

APPLICATION HLED NOV. 1; I918- Patented Sept. 7

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES B. LADD, OF ARDMOBE, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO UNITED STATES CAST IRON PIPE AND FOUNDRY COMPANY, OF BURLINGTON, NEW JERSEY; A CORPO- RATION OF NEW JERSEY.

. Specification of Letters'Patent.

Patented Sept. '7, 1920.

Application filed November 1, 1918. Serial No 260,656.

To (all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES B. LADD, a citi. zen of the United States of America, and resident of Ardmore, in the county of Montgomery, in the State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain'new and useful Improvements in Centrifugal Pipe-Casting, of which the following is a true and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part thereof. I

The general object of my invention is to I provide an improved centrifugal. pipe castmg machine especially devised for use in forming relatively large cast iron pipes.

The various features of novelty which characterize my invention are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this specification. For a better understanding of the invention however, and the advantages obtained with its use, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which I have illustrated-and described the best form of my invention now known to me. e

Qftlie drawings:

Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of a centrifugal pipe casting machine embodying my present invention.

' Fig. 2 is an end elevation .of the machine shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of .Fig. 1..

Fig. 4 is a section taken similarly to Fig 1, but on a larger scale and showing a por tion only. of the apparatus of Fig. 1, and

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the moldcharging trough.

The stationary framework of the centrif- 11 gal casting machine shown in the drawin s comprises a pair of U shaped pedestals which support .the ends of the shafts B and B carryingthe rollers between which the rotatin ipe mold F is held. As shown, the sha t ,which is located centrally above the'mol'd, has each end journaled in a corresponding bolster A, the ends of which extend over the upper ends of the legs of the corresponding U shaped pedestal A. Each of the bolsters A is vertically movable along the legs of the corresponding pedestal and is formed with guideways fiting member estal. The bolsters A are yieldingly held against movement away from the position in which their ends rest upon the upper ends of the legs of the pedestal A by springs C in terposed between the upper sides of the bolsters and adjustable nuts D on bolts D secured at their lower ends to the pedestals A. The roller shafts B, of which there are two, are located below the axis of the rotating mold and at opposite sides of the vertical plane including that axis. ings for the ends of the shafts B andB each comprises a bearing member E, the outer surface of which is a cylinder received in a corresponding cylindrical seat way formed in the corresponding pedestal A or bolster.

away from the axis of rotation of the mold F by the angular adjustment of the corresponding bearing members E in their seat. The bearing, 1proper, contained in each bearmay be of any usual or suitable form. To ermit the ready insertion in, and removal rom the pedestals A of the shafts B slots A are formed in the pedestals. These lead to the concave inner surface of each U shaped pedestal from the seats for the corresponding bearing members E. These slots are of a width to-permit an easy lateral movement of the shafts B therethrough when the bearing members E are removed. The bearing members E may be moved axially out of their seats when the The bear With this arrangement any of the; shafts B or B may be adjusted toward and formed of cast iron is shownas tubular, and

of uniform diameter except :at one end where it is enlarged to provide for the enlargement of the mold cavity to form the bell end of the cast metal pipe P. Adjacent the bell end, the mold is formed with an integral circumferential rib F, the periphery of which is engaged by the peripheral sur-. faces of the rollers 13 carried at corresponding ends of the shafts B and B. At its opposite end the mold F is surrounded by an annular bearing member F which may; be shrunk in place on the mold F and is: en

shaft B. B is a driving pulle on sha gaged by flanged rolls B carried by the corresponding ends of the shafts B, and having flanges engaging the opposite sides of a circumferential rib running around the annular member F The periphery of this rib is engaged by the peripheral tread sur-' faces of the rollers B and by the periphery ofthe corresponding roller 13'' carried b the The bell end of the mold is closed in operation by a removable cup shaped member G, which extends into the bell'end of the inold and is detachably secured therein as by means of clamping bolts G. other end of the mold is closed by an annular member F which is slidingly receivedin the mold F, and maybe secured therein The inner wall'of a short length of the bell a trunnion carried-by the bell end of the. mold charging trough H, whichextends lonas by set screws F in different positions along the len h of. the mold according to the length 0 the cast iron pipe P, to be formed; When I refer to the members G and F 3 as closin the ends of the'niold; I

mean that they e ectually close the ends of the mold against the axial outflow. of the molten pipe forming metal in the casting operation, and not that they actually seal the mold cavity ends, which, on the contrary, are. freely open to the atmosphere.

end of the pipe is preferably positively defined by a dried sand annular core member Gr carried by the end member G. v The mold end member G is formed with a bearing for gitudinally through'the pipe mold and projects out-of the latter at the spigot end .of. the mold. The outer portion of the trough H is connected to a carriage I movable parallel to the axis of rotation of the mold toward andaway from the spigot end of the latter on a guideway or supporting base A provided for the purpose. As shown the. carriage I has surfaces I engaging the upper sides of guide ribs A", forming a part of the framework A and has other guidesurfaces :1 engaging the under sides of the ribs A". The trough H is shown as cylindrical and is formed witha discharge slotH' in its side which is normally uppermost. "of. the.

The slot 'H runs longitudinall I trough H along the portion of t e length of the'latter which is received in-the mold cavity. The trough H is formed atits outer: end with anifilet H?forthe-moltenmetahj which issurrounded by an integral funnel like .projectionH from the troughs The ltroughybutthe slot is formed with a bend 'or curve adjacent thebell end of the trough, iso that the end portion HFof the slot is an;

opposite side walls of the discharge slot H are, for theflinajor portion of the length-of the slot, parallel ,to the length of the The . vide a packing between each end of the shell gularly in advance of the body of the slot having respect to the direction of' rotation of the I trough in discharging the molten metal into the mold in the pipe forming op eration. The trough H is preferablyformed of cast metal and is lined with a suitable refractory liningH The trough H is journaled in the carriage I to'permit the rota tion of the trough about an axis parallel'to its length. The rotation of the trough is brought about, as shown, by means of a spur ear H, secured to the outer end of the trou and in rEefh with a transverse rack bar slidingly ounted in the carriage I. A lever I is pivot d to the projectionl and link connected to the rack bar I, so that when the lever I is oscillated the rack I is reciprocated in the direction of its length and the trough-H thereb rotated.

To move-the trough axially in and out "of the mold F I employ a belt running over pulleys J, the shafts J of which are journaled in beaings A", carried by the framework A near 1ts opposite ends. The belt J 2 is connected at one point .to thecarriage -I as by means of the connector I.

tion or the other .by suitable means (not shown), the carriage I is moved lengthwise of the mold mto or'out of the normal open ating position shown in Fig. 1. To prevent overheating of the m'old, I provide means for surrounding the mold by a 1 Cooling water jacket. As shown, this jacket comprises a stationary cylindrical shell K,'

provided with lateral pro ections K adapted to rest on supporting shoulders A carried b the pedestals A. The cooling water shell comprises a body portion spliced away from the mold F to pro'videa suitable water space K between it and the m old. The shell K has internal 'end' flanges K formed with openings somewhat larger in diameter than 9 the external diameter of the corresponding portions of the mold F, so that the latter does not directly contact with the shell To prevent leakage out of the shell K at the open joints between it and themold F, I,pro-' K'and the mold. As shown; each of these .115 packings comprise a dished flexible gasket or a spring Washer M, advantageously formed out 0 1 of corrugatedsteel; which-is rigidly secured at its peri hery to the corresponding. end of the shell .near'the ri hery of the latter. Secured toeach mem er at its inner margin is an annularcontact member M. formed .of bra s or other suitable 'metahandhaving one 0' its radially extending sides'in contact with .a' radial surface of the mold F. As shown, this radial surface at the bell end of L the mold, is the inner side of the bearing rib K and the other end of the mold, the radial surface engaged by the corresponding annular bearing member M is formed on the annular bearing member F. K is the water inlet to the shell K' and is preferably located at. the bell end of the mold, where on account of the greater amount of metal in the bell end of the pipe'the maximum cooling action is required. The cooling Water outlet K of the shell is located at the opposite end of the mold. Advantageously I provide a continuous spiral deflector rib on the inner wall of the shell K. The inner edge of this rib is in close proximity to, but should not contact with the periphery of the mold F. The elfect of this ribis to cause the major portion of the cooling water entering the shell K, through the inlet K, to pass to the outlet K 'through a spiral path comprising a considerable number of convolutions. Advantageously, the waterflowing along this spiral path travels about the axis 'of rotation of themold. in a direction opposite to that in whichthe mold itself is rotated in the casting operation.

' Those skilled in the art will understand that the apparatus disclosed possesses a nui'n -ber. of constructional and operating advantages of practical importance. The means for supporting and rotating the mold F permit of a rapid rotation of the mold in the casting operation with an economical expenditure of power for this purpose. The mold is held againstaxial displacement by the flange rolls B without interfering with the expansion and contraction of the mold as its temperature changes. The casting formed may be readily withdrawn from the mold whenthe end member G is removed without moving the mold itself out of its bearings.

When it is desired to remove the mold for replacement by another of diflerent size, or

shape, or for other purposes this may be means for axially and rotatably adjustingthe charging trough H are simp and effective. The angular advancement of the bell end H of the slot H, causes a greater pormold cavity, in the construction illustrated,

'tion of the-molten metal per unit of axial length of the mold to be discharged-atthe bell end of themold, than along the re-' mainder of the mold when the trough H is rotated by the manipulation of the lever I to charge the mold. Thisexcess discharge of molten metal at the bell end of the mold vides the necessary metal for filling the portion of the mold cavity beyond the inner end of the core portion G This". portion of the not only lies beyond the end of the trough H,

but takes more molten metal per axial mold length than does the body of the pipe. The excess metal thus poured in at the bell end of the mold, may be regulated by varying the speed, with which the trough H is rotated in the mold charging operation, the slower the trough is rotated, the greater the excess of the metal discharged at the bell end of the mold. The provisions made for cooling the the statutes, 1 have illustrated and described the best form of my invention now known to me, it will be apparent to'those skilled in the art that changes may bemade in-the form of the apparatus disclosed without departing from the spirit of my invention as set forth in the appended claims, and that certain features of my invention may sometimes be used to advantage without the corresponding use of other features. Having now described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to'secure by Letters Patent, is:

1'. In a centrifugal casting machine, the combination with a rotatable mold, of a stationary cooling water jacket shell surrounding the mold and having an inlet at one end and an outlet at the other end for the cooling water, and formed with a spiral internali'ib providing a-spiral path offlow between said inletand outlet.

2. In a centrifugal casting machine, the combination with a rotatable mold thereofj of a cooling water jacket surrounding the mold and having an inlet at one end and an outlet at the other end and having an internal rib for causing the water to flow from the inlet to the outlet through a spiral path around the mold.

3. In-a centrifugal pipe casing machine,

the combination with a rotating pipe mold.

enlarged at one end to form thebell end of the pipe, and a cooling water jacket stirrounding the mold and provided with an inlet at the bell end of the mold and an outlet at the opposite end ofthe mold.

4. In a centrifugal casting machine the combination with a rotatable mold member, of astationary cooling water jacket shell member surrounding the same, and a packing for the joints between the mold and "shell at each end ofthe latter comprising a resilient annular metal part rigidly secured to one ofsaid members and in sliding contact with the other of said members.

5.- In a centrifugal pipe casing machine,

the combination with a rotatable mold internally enlarged at one end to form a bell ended pipe, of a charging trough longitudinally disposed in said mold and serving to charge the latter with molten metal when the trough-is rotated, said 'trou'gh having its overflow edge shaped to discharge molten metal in greater quantity at the bell end of the pipe than along the body or the mold when the trough is rotated.

6. In a centrifugal casting machine, the

.combination with a rotatable mold, of a rotatable mold charging'trou h longitudinally disposed inithemold and aving a portion of its discharge edge in angular advance of the remainder ofthe edge with respect to the direction of rotation of, the trough in the mold charging operation whereby more metal may be'discharged at the portion of the mold adjacent the advanced portion of said edge than at other portions of the mold.

7. In a centrifugal casting machine, the combination with a rotatable mold, of a mold charging'device in the form of a condu'it having one end projecting into the mold cavity, a carriage to which the outer end of the trough is secured, a track upon which said carriage is movable toward andaway from the mold, a pair of spaced-apart pulleys journaled in a belt running over said pulleys-and adjacent the opposite ends of said track connected. at one point to said carriage whereby the latter may be moved toward and away. 10m the mold by rotating said pulleys. 8. n a centrifugal casting machinetwith a rotatable mold, the combination of a changing device, in the; form: of a rotatable trou h having one end projecting into the mo (1 vcavity,-a carriage in which the outerend of the trough is journaled, a track upon which said carriage is'movabletoward and away from the mold, and means for rotatingsaid trough comprising a spur gear secured to said trough, a rack bar'in mesh with said gear and mounted in said carriage to move transversely to the length of said trough and means mounted on said carriage for reciprocatin'g said rack bar. 9. In a'centrlfugal casting machine, the

combination with a revolving mold, of -a supporting framework'form'ed with cylindrical seats, the axes of which are parallel to the mold axle, roller mold supports, and bearing members for the latter formed with cylindrical surfaces received in-said seats and eccentric with respect to said roller supports whereby the latter may be adjusted toward and away from the mold by the angular adjustment of said bearing members in said seats. i

10. In a centrifugal casting machine, the combination with a rotatable mold, of supporting. means therefor comprising pedestalshaving cylindrical seats formed in their base portions and slots leading from each of said seats to an edge of the corresponding pedes- 'tal, bearing members axially insertible in,

andremovablefrom said seats, roller shafts said slotswhen the corresponding bearinging members axially insertible and removable from said seats, and mo d-supporting roller shafts journaled in said bearings,

and laterally 'movable' out of said pedestals through said-slots when the corresponding bearing membersare removed;

v v v JAMESB. 

